EFFECT OF AROMATHERAPY AND MUSIC THERAPY ON PATIENTS ANXIETY, PAIN AND PHYSIOLOGIC PARAMETERS DURING EXTRACTION OF INCLUDED THIRD MOLARS: a RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Purpose This study evaluated the anxiolytic and analgesic effects of aromatherapy and music therapy in patients undergoing mandibular third molar extraction. Basic Procedures A three‐arm randomized clinical trial was conducted with 279 patients, divided into an aromatherapy group (93), a music therapy group (93), and a control group (93). Interventions took place during surgery. Anxiety was measured using the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, and pain with a visual analog scale. Physiological parameters, including heart rate, oxygen saturation, and systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), were recorded. Main Findings The aromatherapy and music therapy groups demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in total, state, and trait anxiety compared to controls (reduction in total anxiety in the aromatherapy group: 3.11; 95% CI, 2.83‐5.45; Rosenthal r , 0.28; P = .006; reduction in total anxiety in the music group: 6.01; 95% CI, 3.69‐8.30; Rosenthal r , 0.52; P < .001; reduction in total anxiety in the control group: 1.47; 95% CI, 0.39‐4.54; Rosenthal r , 0.21; P = .06). The intervention groups also showed reduced heart rate, SBP, and DBP ( P < .05), and increased saturation ( P < .05). Postoperative pain was significantly lower in these groups compared to controls ( P < .05). Principal Conclusions Aromatherapy and music therapy appear to be promising nonpharmacological strategies for reducing perioperative anxiety and pain during mandibular third molar extractions. Music therapy produced a greater reduction in anxiety levels, while aromatherapy showed a more pronounced effect on physiological parameters. Both interventions were associated with lower postoperative pain.